Jose Mourinho Prepares for Real Madrid Pre-Season Kickoff

Jose Mourinho has officially returned as the manager of Real Madrid, and he is scheduled to begin his pre-season campaign on Monday, July 13.

Replacing Alvaro Arbeloa following a disappointing spell at the club and a two-season trophy drought, the new manager faces a tight schedule to get the team back on track. Despite the pressure, there is significant internal support for Mourinho and belief in his ability to extract the best from a squad widely considered one of the most formidable in Europe. As Mourinho starts his tenure, there are three key areas to monitor during the upcoming pre-season.

Will Mourinho trust the youngsters?

The ongoing FIFA World Cup complicates the pre-season schedule, as Mourinho will be without many regular starters from the beginning. With the core of the squad currently participating in the tournament, the coach must rely on academy players to fill the gaps.

Observers wonder if these academy talents will secure long-term roles this season. Recent stints under Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso provided opportunities for graduates like David Jimenez, Thiago Pitarch, Cesar Palacios, and Jorge Cestero to make their debuts. These players will participate in the pre-season, but it remains to be seen which ones win over the new manager. Historically, Mourinho has often favored big-money signings over youth, though success for these youngsters could provide the club with valuable budget flexibility.

A sneak peek into the manager’s tactics

With the new season approaching, attention turns to the tactics Mourinho will employ. His early focus on defensive acquisitions suggests the backline will be central to his system. He will have players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen, and Raul Asencio available from the start, providing a glimpse into his defensive structure.

While the midfield remains a work in progress with only Bernardo Silva added, Mourinho will have Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, and Federico Valverde available soon. A significant tactical challenge remains: addressing the lack of defensive work rate from stars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr., which hampered the team last season. Resolving this issue will be a major priority for the coaching staff.

New signings remain unavailable

Mourinho faces a significant hurdle as he looks to implement his philosophy from day one: his preferred summer signings are currently unavailable.

While Bernardo Silva and Denzel Dumfries are out of the World Cup and expected to return by mid-July, other key targets remain in the tournament. Ibrahima Konate and Marc Cucurella are still competing with France and Spain respectively, meaning they likely will not join the squad until August. This absence impacts the manager’s ability to fully integrate his new recruits into his system before the season commences.